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Hundley likely to return against Mariners

Hundley likely to return against Mariners

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Nick Hundley

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SAN DIEGO -- Catcher Nick Hundley wasn't in the Padres' starting lineup on Wednesday against the Royals, missing his fourth consecutive game after he had fluid buildup in his right elbow from irritating a tendon.

Hundley is expected back for the Padres on Friday against the Mariners, but if for some reason the team needed him on Wednesday, he said could be play.

"He could maybe play [Wednesday]," Padres manager Bud Black said. "I'm going to check on his status after he plays catch and throws. He could be available, depending on how he comes out of this throwing session and hitting."

Hundley missed 31 games earlier this season with a right-oblique strain, but said the fluid buildup in his elbow was just due to the everyday toils of being a Major League catcher.

Hundley was certainly glad the elbow soreness wasn't anything worse.

"Definitely a relief," Hundley said.

Before doctors drained Hundley's elbow, the 27-year-old couldn't straighten it. Hundley said he couldn't even brush his teeth with his right hand, and it even made showering difficult.

Now his elbow has full range of mobility.

"I feel good," Hundley said. "I think that the target is to play Friday, maybe [Wednesday] in late innings if they need me. It feels good."